Soldier&#39;s shield.



AND EILATED EVCESI H. l. BROWN.

SOLDIERS SHIELD. APPLICATION FILED DEc.3I. I9I4.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

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H. 1. BROWN. SOLDIER'S SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 31.1914.

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UNITED STATES n@ einem@ HENRY J. BROWN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOLDIERS SHIELD.

Application iled December 31, 1914.

To all 4whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. BROWN, a subject of the King of England, residing at New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and sitions under fire.

One object is to provide a shield of this kind which can be folded into comp-act form and carried by a soldier without serious inconvenience while on the march.

Another object is to produce a collapsible shield which may be very quickly erected and placed in position for use.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention will be first hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this specification, and then more specifically deiined in the claims at the end of the description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure l is a perspective view of a shield constructed in accordance with my invention as it appears in use. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the shield erected, the spring retainer, hinged braces, middle and end spikes being shown in folded position in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an end View of the shield erected. Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical section through several of the strips of which the shield is composed, showing how they are hinged together. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the lower end of the spring retainer and the spike which is mounted thereon to turn parallel with the bottom strip in case of unsuitable ground. Figs. 6 and 7 are detailed sectional and front views of the interlocking connection between the upper end of the spring retainer and the upper edge of the body of the shield. Fig. 8 is a side view of the shield as it appears when rolled up for transportation, and Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of an extended form of shield for use by three men.

The body A of the shield is composed of flat strips 10 of metal or other suitable material, which are provided along their edges Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Serial No. 879,919.

with overlapping or rabbeted hinge joints 11 somewhat similar to those used on roll-top desks. These joints are fitted so as to restrict the opening of the shield to the arcuate form best illustrated in Fig. 3. Any suitable hinge connection between the strips may be employed, such as the curved pins 12 illustrated in Fig. 4, each of which may be riveted in one strip and adapted to slide in a passage in the adjacent strip, when the shield is folded or rolled up into compact form as illustrated in Fig. 8. rThe shield is preferably made generally semi-circular in shape, but it may be madein other shapes if desired by varying the angle at which the strips are grooved at their meeting edges.

When the shield is made of a size to accommodate one or two men, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it is provided with a single spring retainer or strip B arranged at the center or midway between its ends and swiveled at 13 to the body of the shield. The lower end of this spring retainer is provided with lateral flanges 14 and an intermedi-ate slot l5. A spike 16 is designed to slide down and turn in line with the bottom strip in case of unsuitable ground by means of a bolt 17 passed through the slot 15, and provided with the usual nut (not shown) on one end, as will be readily understood, the shank 18 of the spike fitting between the flanges 14, see Figs. 2 and 5. When the bolt 17 is removed, the spike 16 can be removed from between the guides 14 and turned so as to lie along the bottom of the shield, as when the shield is to be rolled up or the ground is not suitable for driving said spike. The upper end of the retainer B is equipped with a trunk lock 19 having an elongated head 20 to be passed through a correspondingly shaped slot 21 in the center of the top strip of the body, for holding the retainer in position to support the shield in erected position. Said trunk lock has a ring 22 which serves as a handle for operating the same and also as a means of connecting the shield, when in folded position, to the belt or other part of a soldiers equipment for transportation. Said lock may also be used for holding the retainer in folded position, as shown in Fig. 8, the head 20 being then engaged with the end of the strip to which it is pivoted.

It may be noted that the slot 15 in the lower end of the retainer permits the spike 16 to be projected to different lengths beyond the lower edge of the shield or to be turned in case of unsuitable ground for driving in said spike.

Other spikes C are arranged at opposite ends of the lower edge of the shield so as to anchor-the bottom of the shield at both ends as well as in the middle. These spikes C are channeled to it over the edges of two or more of the lower strips of the shield and are retained by a pin on each engaging a slot in the bottom strip. Said pins 23 are designed to slide in the slots 24 which are made long enough to permit the spikes to be turned and slid inward to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 in case of unsuitable ground or when the shield is to be rolled up for transpo-rtation.4 Then in that position, said spikes embrace the lower edge of the bottom strip and their ends are about flush with the edges of said bottom strip.

- The shield is held in upright position by braces D hinged to the end portions of the same intermediate of the bottom and top thereof, said braces being adapted to fold inward so as to lie across or lengthwise of the shield for folding,ras shown in Fig.' 2 in dotted lines. These braces preferably have forked ends 25 to be driven intothe ground as indicated in Fig. 1.

One or more observation and sighting slots 26 may be formed in the shield at the proper places for use as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows two such slots to accommodate two men, while in Fig. 1 the shield is designed for a single man.

The shield maybe made longer so as to accommodate more than two men, if desired. In Fig. 9, I have illustrated a shield adapted to shelter three men and having three of the sighting slots 26. In this form of the' invention, additional retainers B and braces D are employed as may be found necessary or desirable for effectively supporting the shield when in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is H1. A shield of the character described comprising a plurality of strips having rule Joint hinges at their edges, and an inter- `mediately pivoted retainer adapted to be arranged transversely of said strips for holding the shield in erected position, said retainer being also adapted to be turned to lie parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shield when the same is to be rolled up for transportation.

2. A shield of the character described comprising a plurality of strips rule jointed at their edges, said joints being constructed to limit the opening of said shield to an arcuate shape, and a spring retainer arrangedtransversely of said strips for supporting the shield in erected position for use.

3. A shield of the character described comprising a body portion adapted to be rolled up when not in use.l a transverse retainer for supporting the body portion in open position, said retainer having a slot in its lower end, and a spike having an adjusting bolt fitting in said slot, whereby said spike may be turned parallel with the bottom edge of Jphe body of the shield for the purpose speci- 4. A shield of the character described comprising a body portion adapted to be rolled up when not in use, a 'transverse retainer pivoted at an intermediate point to be turned transversely of the body portion for supporting the same in open position, or to be turned longitudinally of the body portion when the latter is to be rolled up, and locking means at the upper end of the retainer and upper edge of the shield for securing the retainer in its transverse position.

5. A shield of the character `described comprising a body portion having longitudinal slots near its lower edge, channeled spikes having pins toslide in said slots, said spikes being thereby adapted to be fitted over the lateraledges of the body' portion of the shield when the latter is erected, or folded longitudinally of the shield when the latter is to be collapsed.

6. A shield of the character described comprising a plurality of strips having rulejointed hinges at their edges, an intermediately pivoted retainer adapted to be arranged transversely of said strips for holding the shield in erected position, said retainer being also adapted to be turned to lie parallel to the longitudinal aXis of the shield when the same is to be rolled up for transportation, and a spike mounted on the lower end ofsaid retainer for driving into the ground.

7. A shield of the character described comprising a body portion adapted to be rolled up when not in use, a transverse retainer pivoted at an intermediate point to be turned transversely of the body portion for supporting the same in open position, or to be turned longitudinally of the body portion when the latter is to be rolled up, and locking means at the upper end of the retainer and the upper edge of the shield for securing the retainer in its transverse position, said locking means on the upper end of the retainer also serving to lock said retainer in its longitudinal position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

HENRY J. BROWNl Witnesses:

WILLIAM FRED PALMER,

WM H.- CHRISTIE.

vt'lopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C. 

